One of the most important parts of every day is also one of the hardest battles to fight. Simply put, it is the alarm clock.
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It may seem like a small battle that does not really affect our day and yet, if we fail to discipline our bodies at the very start of each day, how much harder will it be to do something heroic during the rest of the day?
Saint Josemaria Escriva is well known for what he called the “heroic minute.” He wrote:
Many good Christians develop the habit of giving their first thought of the day to God. The “heroic minute” follows: it facilitates the Morning Offering and getting the day off to a good start. The heroic minute. It is the time fixed for getting up. Without hesitation: a supernatural reflection and … up. The heroic minute: here you have a mortification that strengthens your will and does no harm to your body. If, with God’s help, you conquer yourself, you will be well ahead for the rest of the day.
It’s so discouraging to find oneself beaten at the first skirmish (St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way).
How many times do we hit the “snooze” button? It is interesting to think how simple and how hard this first battle is every day!
When a person thinks about mortification, fasting or penance, the imagination typically pictures us wearing some sort of penitential hairshirt and eating only bread and water for 40 days. However, for some of us the “heroic minute” seems much more daunting!
It is the first “skirmish” of the day and is the first time we can combat the desires of the flesh. With this first victory, we will feel much more able to take on the day and defeat any other enemies that may come. For example, for someone who is struggling with an addiction (like pornography, alcohol, or drugs), the “heroic minute” becomes a vital part of disciplining the will so that it is easier to say no to a sinful habit.
This also helps us with the battle of daily prayer. If we are able to give to God the very first fruits of our day, there is a more likely chance that we will offer to God the remainder of our day.
Serviam!
A common practice for those in Opus Dei is to practice the “heroic minute” by getting up immediately when the alarm sounds, kneel down, kiss the floor, and say “Serviam!,” which is Latin for “I will serve!”
The reasoning behind this comes from the defiance of Satan who said, “Non Serviam” (I will not serve). These words of Satan do not come from Scripture, but from Milton’s Paradise Lost. Even though the words aren’t biblical, they do reflect the reality of Satan’s decision to not serve God.
By saying “Serviam,” instead of becoming a part of Satan’s legion of rebels, we choose each day to be a part of God’s army and to serve Him with a willing heart.
Challenge: Tomorrow, when you wake-up don’t press the snooze button. Get out of bed and say “Serviam!” Then you will have already won your first battle of the day and will be strengthened to conquer the rest of the dragons that will try to bring you down.
Read the Entire Series
- The Secret to Finding Time for Prayer in a Busy World
- What Beauty and the Beast Can Teach Us About Why We Don’t Pray
- What do Mother Teresa, Fulton Sheen, and J.R.R. Tolkien all have in common?
- Do You Feel Like You Have No Time to Pray? Then This Series is For You
- How a Daily Prayer Schedule is a Mighty Weapon Against Satan